Thames Tideway Enforcement: the Case for a Single Unified Agency
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Middlesex University Research Repository An open access repository of Middlesex University research http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk Watson, Roger (2006) Thames tideway enforcement: the case for a single unified agency. DProf thesis, Middlesex University. [Thesis] This version is available at: https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/2666/ Copyright: Middlesex University Research Repository makes the University’s research available electronically. Copyright and moral rights to this work are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners unless otherwise stated. The work is supplied on the understanding that any use for commercial gain is strictly forbidden. A copy may be downloaded for personal, non-commercial, research or study without prior permission and without charge. 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See also repository copyright: re-use policy: http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/policies.html#copy Thames Tideway Enforcement The Case for a Single Unified Agency Study Background This report was completed as part of Doctorate in Professional Studies under the auspices of the National Centre for Work-Based Learning Partnerships at Middlesex University. The studies were supervised by Professor Jonathan Garnett and Professor Ron Hamilton and were sponsored by the Corporation of London: The author’s employer. Author’s contact details: Roger Watson PO Box 270 Guildhall London EC2P 2EJ Telephone: 020 7332 1600 Fax: 020 7332 1623/3177 [email protected] The views expressed in this report are those of the author alone and do not in any way represent the views or policies of any other individual or organisation, unless otherwise stated. Any errors or incorrect statements are the author’s personal responsibility. i Acknowledgements This report would not have been possible without the help, support and guidance of many people. I wish especially to thank Professor Jonathan Garnett, who advised and guided me throughout my doctoral studies. Thanks also to Professor Ron Hamilton who, with Professor Garnett read my drafts and gave meaningful insights, timely advice and encouragement enabling me to complete this project. I am grateful to the following who gave time of their extremely busy lives to enable the research to progress and to comment on the possible outcomes: • Steve Cuthbert Managing Director, Port of London Authority • Chris Burks Regional Manager (London) Environment Agency • John Astbury Director Maritime & Coastguard Agency • Dr Peter Spillett Environment Manager, Thames Water • Dr Mike Farrimond Director, United Kingdom Water Industry Research • Jon Averns Port Health Director, London Port Health Authority • Dr Alex Mellanby London Region Director, Health Protection Agency • Dr. P. Mielman Head of Port Health, Port of Hamburg • Dr. J.P.H.J Vera Head of Safety Authority for the Port of Rotterdam. • Professor Jeremy Rayner, Malaspina University College, British Columbia- Canada I wish to thank the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee of the Corporation for all their support and the former and current Town Clerks, Tom Simmons and Chris Duffield, for their encouragement. Despite my best efforts the completion of my doctoral studies over the last few years, and in particular, the completion of this report impacted upon my daily work. Fortunately I have a first-class management team and staff who have been extremely patient and supportive of my studies – to all of them I am grateful. Production of this document would not have been possible without the continual assistance of Jacqui Cover to whom I owe a large debt of gratitude. Finally my especial thanks go to June for her support encouragement, patience and love, which helped me to get through my doctoral studies over the last few years. ii Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations ASBO A legal restriction placed on persons who consistently Anti-Social Behaviour Order break or flout a wide range of legislative provisions Association of Port Health The umbrella association for all UK Port Health Authorities Authorities, recognised as a statutory consultee by both the UK and EU administration BCC The association of British Businesses which act as a British Chamber of Commerce lobby/constructive group with Government City of London Corporation The Local Authority for the “Square Mile” the financial centre of London, it is in fact two Local Authorities also being the LPHA CSO Normally a surface water discharge point in the river, Combined Sewer Overflows these discharge untreated raw sewage into the river whenever the sewers surcharge. The discharge then becomes “combined” surface water and sewage DEFRA The UK Government Department responsible for Department of Environmental Estuarial Policy the EA and FSA are both Agencies Food and Rural Affairs which report (inter alia) to DEFRA DoH The Government Department with responsibility for Department of Health UK health policy EA The UK National Agency responsible for Environmental Agency Environmental controls (i.e. not Environmental Health controls) throughout England and Wales. EHN The weekly publication of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health News Environmental Health English Nature The Government Agency responsible for ensuring sustainable habitats for indigenous wildlife and plants FSA The UK Government Agency responsible for setting Food Standards Agency standards for food composition safety and hygiene. iii Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations Hampton Report A report prepared by a group chaired by Sir Philip Hampton examining the possibility of streamlining UK legislative regulation and has developed a RIA system HMC & E A predecessor of HMC & R Her Majesties Customs & Excise HMC & R The Government Agency charged with collection of Her Majesties Customs & Government Taxation. Revenue HPA The Government Agency responsible for health Health Protection Agency controls reporting to the DoH IDCL The substantial body of legislation of UK EC and Infectious Disease Control International provenance which is enforced in the TT Legislation by the LPHA and the HPA Kent and Essex The regulatory body currently (2006) charged with Sea Fisheries Committee control of sea fisheries in the Thames Estuary London Port Health Authority The organisation responsible for much of the Thames Tideway Environmental Health enforcement. It is a division of the City of London Corporation MCA The UK National Agency responsible for all marine Marine and Coastguard Agency safety issues in all navigable coastal/tidal waters Mollusc Shell fish (mainly, but not exclusively cockles in the TT) MHS The regulatory body for all meat related issues in Meat Hygiene Service England MOU A quasi legal agreement formally entered into between Memoranda of Understanding organisations to ensure that expectations of each other are fully understood MSA A predecessor to the MCA Marine Safety Agency iv Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations NGO’s Organisations which may have national impact but are Non Governmental not government bodies Organisations OFWAT The Government Agency charged with setting policy Office for Water Regulation and spending for water infrastructure. It therefore effectively controls the prices consumers pay for water and sewage services. Pelagic Fish Fish with fins PLA The Port Authority for the Thames (Not the Medway) Port of London Authority Red List A list of endangered species in the UK maintained by the Environment Agency and English Nature RIA A system developed by the Hampton group to Regulatory Impact Assessment determine the risk/benefits of reducing regulatory burdens on business RTS A voluntary body where aims are the protection of the River Thames Society river heritage SSM A system of linking in research terms the “real” world Soft System Mythology and the world of “system thinking” STW An intensive industrial plant used to render sewage Sewage Treatment Works harmless to human heath. TEP An affiliation of organisations concerned with the Thames Estuary Partnership management of the physical environment of the Thames Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Thames River Restoration Trust A voluntary body concerned with returning the river to a state capable of sustaining salmon. Thames Tideway The 94 miles of tidal waters from Teddington Lock in the West to an imaginary line drawn between 51° 26’ 36” N 01° 20’ 3” E and Gunfleet Old Lighthouse in the Estuarial North Sea. It includes the tidal portions of all associated waterways the Reaches of the River Medway above a line between Coalmouth Creek and Stangate Creek the Easter River Swale and the River Poach and Crouch in Essex. v Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations Tidal